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I love maps and each time I study one at leisure I want to go and find out those tracks that end at streams, hills or in the middle of nowhere. You can learn a lot by maps and modern road maps like those from Hema, Sunmaps and others are a must if you are heading to places that you have not been previously visited. But road maps only show the basic things; they seldom show camping areas, fishing holes, and other things that we outdoor people live for. For more detailed mapping you need to invest in the AUSLIG topographic maps. Australia is covered by over 3000 1:100 000 scale maps and almost 2000 have been published. At this scale 1cm on the map covers 1 km on the ground, thus much detailed information is available. These maps cover an area of half a degree of longitude by half a degree of latitude, or to put it another way about 54km from east to west and north to south, with contour intervals every 20 metres. They are generally up to date as is possible. The popular, but older 1:250,000 scale maps represent 1 cm to 2.5km on the ground, while each map covers an area of one and a half degrees of longitude by one and half degree of latitude about 150km from east to west and 110km north to south. The contour intervals are 50 metres, the largest scale that topographic maps cover. Maps this size cover the same area covered by six 1:100 000 maps, so present a substantial saving. Better still are the selected maps produced by the Defence Mapping and used by the defence department and available from AUSLIGin 1:50 000 scale. Some pictures of edible plants on the back of survival purposes. The coverage of these maps is predominantly above the Tropic of Capricorn. Aeronautical charts covering Tactical Pilot (TCP), Jet Navigation (JNC) and Operational Mavigation (ONC) covering Australia are also available from AUSLIG. Pilots charts are useful for heights like ranges and hilly country. You can order maps directly from AUSLIG Map Sales Freecall 1800 800 173 or vist: www.auslig.gov.au or from map stockists. Marine navigation charts are published by the Australian Hydrographic Service, Wollongong, NSW. Ph (02) 4223 6500 or visit: www.hydro.gov.au or from map shops and most marine outlets. If you prefer soft copies, CDs, DVD and microSD disks holding most topo area maps are also available from the above sources and on line for computers, boat, car and handheld GPS units. The Navionics multi-dimensional charts are ready to use in compatible Geonav, Hummingbird, Lowrance, Northstar, Raymarine and Simrad plotters and cover all of Australia. Visit www.navionics.com. However, I love studying hard copy maps, especially when sharing a few drinks with mates planning a trip, while I also take maps along if I need them in the 4WD. Looking After Maps Maps cost money and its easy to hand over a $100 bucks for a connecting series of maps for a given area. Being paper they don't last long and if you have a laptop or GPS unit the soft copy option, while costing more initially, last forever. But if you love maps, you need to care for them if you don't want to replace them after every trip. A commonsense practice with paper maps is to have them laminated. This doubles the cost, however means they last virtually forever. The only problem with lamination is that they need to be rolled up during transportation. The way to fold topographic maps in folded A4 size, similar to road maps. It is a simple thing to do, but the downside is that the folded edges and corners wear and leave holes in the map, while marking is also a problem. Some AUSLIG maps can be bought folded, though I suspect this may be done by the dealer. I carry rolled maps in a PVC tube with a cap on it. It's a simple robust storage system that protects maps when on the road, and is easy to store in a handy place. Okay, the only problem with paper maps is if you want to check a track you have to stop the vehicle and get the map out – when it could easily be done with a GOS unit. I agree, however in my experience some 4WD drivers I been with using GPS are bloody unsafe! That's because the driver is spending too much time looking at the damn GPS screen rather than the road ahead. I may be termed old-fashioned but I don't like running off the road into a drain, or worse. If you have a GPS in the vehicle use it safely and when in doubt stop the vehicle. Maps go hand in hand with a compass when walking in the bush, though the hand-held GPS unit is faster and much easier for route plotting. But if your GPS unit's batteries are flat, or the computer memory crashes – then what? A small pocket compass weighs little and having one along as a backup unit is very reassuring in case the GPS unit goes on the blink. Reading Maps Navigation skills with a map come with the practice. Much can be obtained by studying the map at home. It is something I do as I don't carry a map in the bush when walking, and to be truthful very seldom a compass either, though as I get older some of the former homing pigeon0like ways are failing me a little. I also have a handheld Lowrance Endura Sierra GPS that I use on a regular basis when hunting in areas. I don't know much about. But before I venture in it I study the areas on a good map and actually have a feel for it when I am there. It makes the GPS much easier to read. Maps may not be the whole answer to bush and sea navigation, but they are essential tools that make it very possible not only to enjoy the outing but also from becoming hopelessly lost. Resources: In Marines.com, you will get fishing spots, maps, travel spots in Australia and many more interested articles. For more information, visit our site: www.marinews.com/ps_map/
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